The Federal Register today published a proposed new rule for “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) that will resolve years of uncertainty over where federal jurisdiction begins and ends. The Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Army Corp of Engineers will take comments on the proposal for the next 60 days.

The results of the ICC Group A 2018 model codes vote have been finalized, and NAHB got many of the changes it was hoping for – and blocked many undesired changes – thanks in large part to member mobilization.

NAHB has added Detroit, San Diego, Tampa, Fla., and Minneapolis to its exclusive series of maps detailing metro areas where the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) is used to develop new affordable homes and apartments.

Affordable housing has been an ongoing concern across the United States, but has hit high-growth metropolitan areas such as San Francisco and Seattle particularly hard. The Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties calls for greater action by Washington State to address affordable housing issues.

The Treasury Department released final regulations for the 20% pass through entity deduction under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. The final regulations concern the deduction for qualified business income under Section 199A of the Internal Revenue Code.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced that residents of the Dominican Republic, Ethiopia and the Philippines will no longer be able to enter the U.S. on temporary work visas. The decision could affect builders who utilize H-2B programs, which give visas to seasonal workers in construction and other industries.

Code development runs on a three-year cycle, meaning that work on the 2021 edition of the ICC started in 2018 with the Group A sections of the code. Group B sections of the code will begin development in 2019, headlined by the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), a model code adopted by states and municipal governments nationwide to establish minimum energy efficiency requirements.

Craig Havenner recognizes the benefits of building to the National Green Building Standard. As president of Christopher Companies in Northern Virginia, Havenner has built more than 450 units to the NGBS, and two more of his properties under development are on their way to meeting the standard.